DETROIT – As the NHL trade deadline approaches there’s one thing Wings general manager Ken Holland won’t be dealing for this season … depth players.

“I don’t think we need any more depth up front,” Holland said. “We’d like to get healthy up front. If we can do a legitimate trade to acquire a player that we think is a legitimate top nine or top six forward or a legitimate top four defenseman then we’re going to look. I don’t need any depth. There’s no use for me trading a fourth-round pick to bring in here someone to sit. We have lots of depth up front and we have lots of depth on defense so we don’t need depth.

“Is there a player that someone wants to trade that wants to be a top six or top nine forward, not really when everyone is trying to win,” Holland continued. “Today a couple of teams signed players that were going to be unrestricted free agents. I think between now and Wednesday lots of teams are going to sign some of their players. I’m working the phones and if there’s a legitimate top six or top nine forward or a legitimate top four D, behind that I don’t think we have (much interest).”

The trade deadline is 3 p.m. Wednesday.

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Holland will miss the Wings’ charter flight to Phoenix just in case a deal for what he’s looking for happens.

“I think we wake up Wednesday and because of history we’ll have 20-30 trades, but lots of deals will be made for depth,” Holland said. “I’ve had some conversations with some teams about the odd depth player and I really don’t have an interest. Again, because of the development of (Jakub) Kindl, (Brian) Lashoff, Brendan Smith, because of the signing of Dan DeKeyser on defense, we’ve got nine guys here and had to trade away Kent Huskins to make room.

“Because of the development of Joakim Andersson, who we really like,” Holland continued. “(Tomas) Tatar and (Gustav) Nyquist have gotten an opportunity. Because Patrick Eaves is healthy. Because we signed Damien Brunner, who can play in the NHL. You look and we don’t need any depth.”

Colaiacovo returns

Wings defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo has been waiting for this day since he signed with the Detroit Red Wings … a chance to play in front of the home crowd.

After missing the last 33 games with a sprained left shoulder, Colaiacovo played at Joe Louis Arena as a member of the Wings for the first time Monday against the Colorado Avalanche.

“It’s been a long time,” Colaiacovo said after the morning skate. “It’s been a lot frustration, a lot of hard work, countless hours at the rink and away from the rink just preparing myself for this moment. I’m feeling really good about myself, especially the stint I had with the (Grand Rapids) Griffins, played a lot, got some confidence back and just felt really good to be back out there, be a hockey player and play hockey again.”

Colaiacovo played the first two games for the Wings, which were both on the road, before getting hurt.

“When I first signed here I said the Joe is one of my favorite rinks to play in,” Colaiacovo said. “I haven’t had that chance to do it in a Wings uniform. That’s something that’s going to keep the adrenaline going.”

Colaiacovo played two games with the Griffins over the weekend as part of a conditioning stint.

“It didn’t take me long the first two games down there,” Colaiacovo said. “I got into it right away, the feeling of being in a game was a new feeling for me right off the bat. Once I got my feet wet and felt comfortable out there. It all just started to come back to me. I’m feeling really good out there.”

Colaiacovo was paired with Brendan Smith on the blue line. Brian Lashoff was sent to Grand Rapids to clear up a roster spot.

“We had to send Lash to the minors and that was a roster move and not a coaches’ decision,” Wings coach Babcock said. “We needed to make a roster move so we could clear room. He’s a guy that’s played in the league. He’s a guy, like (Mikael) Samuelsson, that basically hasn’t played for us all year. We’re putting him and ideally he plays well.”

“Like all groins, day-to-day for 10 of them,” Babcock said. “(Samuelsson) went and got looked at this morning so I’m assuming he’ll be ready to go here soon eventually.”

Zetterberg was scratched after the pre-game skate Sunday.

“It’s still day-to-day,” Zetterberg said. “I will say I feel a few percent better today than yesterday. That’s improvement. So we’re still doing treatment and hopefully I’ll feel better tomorrow than I do today.”

Zetterberg said he injured the groin in San Jose last Thursday.

“We did some tests and it showed something, and that’s why I’m not playing,” said Zetterberg, who didn’t skate Monday. “We didn’t have a morning skate (Sunday) so I wanted to feel how it felt out there, and it wasn’t any better than the day before, so I made the decision not to play.”

Forward Todd Bertuzzi (back) continues to skate with the team.

“Hopefully everything stays the course and hopefully get back within a week or so,” Bertuzzi said. “But it’s tough to say when you’re going to do it. I just have to make sure that I’m ready. I don’t want to go in the lineup then come out of the lineup because of an issue because I rushed. So, I understand the season’s coming to a halt and it’s frustrating that I feel that I can go in there and hope the guys out, and the guys are battling and doing their best. They’ve done a good job, but it would be nice to get out there and help them out.

“I think the doctor just said it goes in sections,” Bertuzzi added. “The epidural works in the back first, works its way down the leg and back up the inside, so I think I’m probably at the last stage, hopefully. Hopefully it stays that way and I can be back sooner.”

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